Before reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, the only experience I had had with Zora Neale Hurston was in short essays, which I had enjoyed. I also enjoyed this novel, and I'm glad it was part of the curriculum. A couple years ago I saw the movie with friends, and found it idealistic and aesthetically pleasing, but not much else. Oprah calls this one of the best modern love stories, however, I am not convinced. As a story about love as an object, yes it is quite good; and captures well the dreams and idealistic views of the concept. As a story about love as a verb however, or character even, I did not find this novel an impressive "love story."
I was also unimpressed by Tea Cake as a man. Throughout the novel, Janie is ruled by men despite her independent, free spirit. While this is realistic of the time, it is still unfortunate that the talents of this vivacious protagonist are stifled by a string of second-rate men, specif ally, powerful men. Killicks is a powerful man because he owns land and in a sense, owns Janie. Jody also is wealthy, charismatic, and a leader in Eatonville. Even though Tea Cake is poor and owns nearly nothing to his name, he is also charismatic, and holds power over Janie for the simple fact that she loves him. Hurston is showing the weakness of women at the time, and in many ways, today as well. Women were over-ruled by men with money, with leadership in the eyes of others, and by men who abused the love of women. The novel builds up this hope for Janie, a hope that she will one day posses happiness, independence, and most importantly, the happiness and independence found through 'true' love. Unfortunately, this never really happens for Janie. Even Tea Cake, the knight who whisks her away from her old life with promises of love and adventure lets Janie down. He steals her money but all is forgiven when he wins it back in a game of chance. Later, he flirts with one of the muck workers, and refuses to be responsible and respectful of Janie and put a stop to Nunkie's advances. Finally, in chapter 17, he goes so far as to beat Janie. Blinded by love, she stays with him, stays silent, and the situation seems to be ignored completely. Is this the sort of love Janie has been waiting for her entire life? Janie is determined to continue loving Tea Cake, and while some may find her new forgiving attitude endearing and romantic, I find it rather tragic, and, when reading chapter 17, I shook my head in disappointment.
I still enjoy Janie as a character however, and in many ways, respect her a fellow woman. I was impressed with her decision to face the reality of Tea Cake's condition at the end of the novel, and in an act of love for him and need to protect herself, she shot him. I think that this act showed her final act of achievement over men. For once Janie had complete control over the situation. This is hinted at earlier in the novel when she become a better shot than Tea Cake. Guns were manly objects, and shooting was a sport reserved solely for men. Janie however, excels at it, and I find myself proud of her for holding some ground in a man's world.
Would this novel have had a stronger message if Janie's life had played out the way she and readers wanted it to? I don't think so. I think it took tragedy rather than a stereotypical love story to show her true strength. I still think it is unfortunate, however, that she did not achieve power over a man until he was rendered completely incoherent and unable to function do to rabies...
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First of all, I enjoyed reading this blog it was very engaging and insightful towards the novel. I agree with you that this is not the greatest modern love story. Maybe it is in the mind of Oprah, in which case it goes the same for millions of her follwers as well. I think that the novel was hoever a play on the frailty of the condition of the spirits and valor of women. You pointed this out in the blog Im just restating it. Janie was indeed dominated by the men in the story up until the moment she shot Tea Cake. It was a true moment of personal liberation for her. Ironically and probably somewhat poetically, it IS through Tea Cake that she finally achieves what she always desires. This feeling may have been an illusion at first but by the end, even through all the trials they faced, he gave her the power, as you said, to take control of her life once and for all. Ill be it in a sad, twist ending. Good Job, nice observations.
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